Maliboda

Maliboda is a tea estate located in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at an elevation of 260 metres above sea level. The estate produces black tea and is recorded as a supplier to Finlays, a major vertically integrated tea company with operations across multiple origins. The operator of the estate is not publicly documented in available trade records.

Terroir & Climate

At 260 metres elevation, Maliboda falls within Sri Lanka's low-grown tea zone, which typically extends from sea level to around 600 metres. Estates at this altitude generally experience warmer temperatures and more consistent year-round growth compared to the slower, cooler conditions of the mid- and high-grown regions. Low-grown districts in Sri Lanka tend to benefit from monsoon rainfall patterns that support vigorous vegetative growth and year-round cropping cycles.

The Sabaragamuwa Province, positioned in the south-central part of the island, occupies a transitional zone between the wet southwestern plains and the central highlands. Estates in this latitude and elevation band often produce teas with a character shaped by warmth and moisture, conditions that typically favour robust leaf development and efficient manufacturing of orthodox or CTC black teas destined for blending and value segments of the global market.

Tea Produced

Maliboda produces black tea. Low-grown Sri Lankan teas from estates at similar elevations typically yield a full-bodied, brisk cup with good colour and strength, qualities that are often prized in blends for everyday consumption. These teas generally lack the aromatic complexity and brightness associated with high-grown Ceylon teas, but they tend to offer consistency, depth, and a malty or slightly earthy base well suited to milk and robust breakfast blends. The warm growing conditions at this altitude usually support teas with assertive character rather than nuanced floral or citrus notes.

Supply Chain & Market Position

Maliboda is recorded as supplying Finlays, a global tea company with estates, blending facilities, and brand partnerships across Africa and Asia. Finlays operates as both a producer and a supplier to major retail and foodservice buyers worldwide, and its procurement from estates such as Maliboda typically indicates a role in volume supply chains serving branded tea companies and supermarket own-labels. The relationship suggests that Maliboda's output is integrated into blends distributed internationally, though the specifics of volume and contract terms are not publicly disclosed.

• Recorded supplier to  Finlays

Location & Neighbouring Estates

Maliboda lies at 6.8925, 80.4183 in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Its 260 m elevation is the 28th highest of 75 estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:

• Kendalanda — 4.7 km away
• Noori — 6.1 km away
• Forest Hill Tea — 6.5 km away · Hospital Road Erathna
• Broadlands Tea Factory — 8.8 km away · Kalugala-Laxapana Rd
• Kolonna — 10 km away

Estates at a Similar Altitude to Maliboda

Elevation shapes how slowly leaf matures, so we match Maliboda (260 m) with estates within 150 m of its height that are not its neighbours. Each is shown with its own 2025 climate. Maliboda recorded 4,260 mm in 2025, 106% more than the 2,072 mm average across these estates: at the same height, local weather and exposure matter as much as elevation.

Estate	Where	Elevation	Rain 2025	Mean high
Kahawatte Plantations, Endane	Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka	267 m	2,770 mm	28.9 °C
Biyolta	Southern Province, Sri Lanka	267 m	2,647 mm	28.6 °C
Yixian Qingye Tea Farm Co. Ltd - final packing and primary processing	Huang Shan, China	241 m	1,194 mm	22.7 °C
Putharjhora Tea Garden Pvt. Ltd.	JALPAIGURI, India	283 m	3,002 mm	27.7 °C
Kairbetta Estate	Nilgiris, India	231 m	745 mm	34.5 °C

Maliboda Compared with Sabaragamuwa Province

In Sabaragamuwa Province, Maliboda is wetter than 78% of the others by 2025 rainfall; higher than 64% of the others by elevation; cooler than 64% of the others by daytime temperature. The table sets Maliboda against the 74 other estates we map in Sabaragamuwa Province, so you can see whether it is typical for its region or an outlier.

Measure	Maliboda	Region median	Region range
Elevation	260 m	164 m	26 to 1,355 m
Annual rainfall (2025)	4,260 mm	3,390 mm	2,018 to 4,839 mm
Mean daily high	29.0 °C	29.5 °C	21.5 to 30.9 °C
Mean overnight low	20.9 °C	21.9 °C	15.7 to 23.0 °C

Observed Climate at Maliboda (2025)

ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Maliboda’s coordinates recorded 4,260 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (792 mm) and the driest was February (58 mm). Daytime highs averaged 29.0 °C and overnight lows 20.9 °C over the year; April was the warmest month and January the coolest.

Metric	2025 value
Annual precipitation	4,260 mm
Wettest month	November (792 mm)
Driest month	February (58 mm)
Mean daily high	29.0 °C
Mean overnight low	20.9 °C

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Maliboda located?

Maliboda is in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, at coordinates 6.8925, 80.4183, at an elevation of about 260 metres.

What type of tea does Maliboda produce?

Maliboda is recorded as producing black tea.

Which buyers does Maliboda supply?

Public supplier disclosures record Maliboda as supplying Finlays.

How much rain does Maliboda receive?

ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 4,260 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (792 mm).

How does Maliboda compare with estates at a similar elevation?

Maliboda recorded 4,260 mm in 2025, 106% more rain than the 2,072 mm average of estates at a similar elevation.

Data sources: public supply-chain disclosures (Ethical Tea Partnership member lists, Rainforest Alliance certificate holders and retailer supplier disclosures); climate figures are ERA5 reanalysis modelled for the estate’s coordinates via Open-Meteo (calendar year 2025); coordinates and elevations from geocoded records. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].